Saudi Arabia: Council of Economic, Development Affairs Tackles Investors’ Contribution in Logistic Services

Meeting between the Local Content Unit and the National Logistics Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Wednesday. Asharq Al-Awsat.
Meeting between the Local Content Unit and the National Logistics Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Wednesday. Asharq Al-Awsat.
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Saudi Arabia: Council of Economic, Development Affairs Tackles Investors’ Contribution in Logistic Services

Meeting between the Local Content Unit and the National Logistics Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Wednesday. Asharq Al-Awsat.
Meeting between the Local Content Unit and the National Logistics Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers in Riyadh on Wednesday. Asharq Al-Awsat.

Fahd al-Sukait of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs has discussed with officials in the National Logistics Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC), on Wednesday, the condition of investors in logistic services and suggestions to boost this sector and its contribution in the public sector.

This comes amid expectations that the sector grows in 2018 up to 17-22 percent.

The meeting discussed programs that contribute in reinforcing logistic services within the plan to stimulate the private sector, programs to support SMEs and plans to qualify and train the Saudi youths. It also tackled plans to saudize and attract Saudi youths to this sector.

The two sides discussed the role of chambers of commerce and the Local Content Unit in highlighting both the risks and upsides of this decision, and how to address any challenges in this regard to make jobs in the sector sustainable.

Sukait stressed importance of associative strategy between the public and private sector, which achieves economic growth, contributes in accomplishing the Saudi Vision 2030 and reduces unemployment.

He directed the Local Content Unit to submit the five main challenges to the logistics sector so as to address them as soon as possible and elevate the sector’s performance.

Saud al-Nefaei, head of National Logistics Committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers, said to Asharq Al-Awsat during a phone-call that “work is ongoing so that the logistics sector becomes a system linked with many related sectors whether transportation, storage, customs and others."

Nefaei noted that the sector is witnessing a mounting growth, expecting the logistics sector growth to range between 17-22 percent during 2018.



Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
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Washington Urges Israel to Extend Cooperation with Palestinian Banks

A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)
A West Bank Jewish settlement is seen in the background, while a protestor waves a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bilin in 2012. (AP)

The United States on Thursday called on Israel to extend its cooperation with Palestinian banks for another year, to avoid blocking vital transactions in the occupied West Bank.

"I am glad that Israel has allowed its banks to continue cooperating with Palestinian banks, but I remain convinced that a one-year extension of the waiver to facilitate this cooperation is needed," US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday, on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Rio de Janeiro.

In May, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to cut off a vital banking channel between Israel and the West Bank in response to three European countries recognizing the State of Palestine.

On June 30, however, Smotrich extended a waiver that allows cooperation between Israel's banking system and Palestinian banks in the occupied West Bank for four months, according to Israeli media, according to AFP.

The Times of Israel newspaper reported that the decision on the waiver was made at a cabinet meeting in a "move that saw Israel legalize several West Bank settlement outposts."

The waiver was due to expire at the end of June, and the extension permitted Israeli banks to process payments for salaries and services to the Palestinian Authority in shekels, averting a blow to a Palestinian economy already devastated by the war in Gaza.

The Israeli threat raised serious concerns in the United States, which said at the time it feared "a humanitarian crisis" if banking ties were cut.

According to Washington, these banking channels are key to nearly $8 billion of imports from Israel to the West Bank, including electricity, water, fuel and food.